'Kate' Steinle family files claims against S.F., federal officials over her death

Arrest of undocumented immigrant for fatal shooting has spurred national debate on 'sanctuary city' policy

The family of a woman fatally shot on San Francisco's waterfront in July filed wrongful death claims Tuesday against San Francisco and federal officials.

The family of Kate Steinle gathered with attorney Frank Pitre on the steps of San Francisco City Hall to announce the legal claims, which are often precursors to lawsuits.

Steinle was fatally shot on July 1 while walking with family members on Pier 14 in broad daylight. Within an hour of the shooting, police arrested Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, an undocumented immigrant who had been deported five times and has seven prior felony convictions.

The shooting and arrest have spurred a national debate on San Francisco's sanctuary city policy, which limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

Pierre said San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi "made himself the king, judge and jury" when it came to the city's cooperation with federal authorities.

The gun used in the shooting belonged to a Bureau of Land Management ranger who had it stolen from his car in San Francisco.

Pitre said that the gun was left in his car against mandatory regulations for federal employees.

Sheriff Mirkarimi, who has borne the brunt of the criticism following the incident, has argued that cooperating with the ICE request would have violated San Francisco's Sanctuary City and Due Process for All policies, as well as the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Mayor Ed Lee

Monday night, Mirkarimi issued a statement saying that while he "can't comment on potential litigation, he continues to extend his deepest sympathy to the Steinle family for their loss."

In a preliminary hearing last week to determine if Lopez-Sanchez would stand trial for murder experts testified that the bullet that killed Steinle appears to have ricocheted off of something before hitting her, suggesting that she was not the intended target.

That hearing has been continued to tomorrow, Sept. 3.

Hannah Albarazi, Bay City News, contributed to this report.

Comments

68 people like this

Posted by local business owner
a resident of Amador Estates
on Sep 1, 2015 at 8:39 am

Every public official who skirted the law by allowing this criminal to be on the streets should be prosecuted to the fullest. Sanctuary city? By definition, illegal aliens are breaking the law simply by being here, add to that he was a felon, a repeat offender and yet still released into the public to commit yet another crime is beyond belief. This political correctness is killing our country and law abiding citizens everyday. How much more will we put up with before we stand up and say no. America is a land of laws, and if you can't/wont uphold the law you have no business being an public official. You don't get to pick and choose which laws you like and only enforce those. When will we finally voice outrage for this treasonous behavior...when YOUR child or spouse is murdered, raped or tortured by a criminal who was allowed to do so by those who are charged with protecting us? What will you say then? Would you say it's okay because there is such a small percentage of illegal alien criminals? You would say that looking into the eyes of your murdered child? Would you...really? Even ONE person accosted by an illegal alien is an outrage, they aren't supposed to be here....At all! You say it doesn't matter? It matters to the Steinle's....and I bet it would matter if it happened to you. Now before you pull the race card on me, stuff it. That's the very kind of nonsense that got this girl killed. We have laws, our officials are sworn to obey them, and we must demand that they do exactly that.

I sure hope this suit goes to trial and that the stupidity of sanctuary cities is exposed for what it is - illegal. The people who are responsible, from the mayor to the president should be in jail along with the illegal entrants to our country.

I hope the lawsuit bankrupts that cesspool of a city. The place is just dirty, filthy, and disgusting. I hope they will take money to help build a wall and gel the victims of violent crime committed by illegal aliens.

Posted by Pleasanton Resident
a resident of Downtown
on Sep 1, 2015 at 11:03 am

I can't seem to find what is wrong with Kate's Law that would have zero Democratic co-sponsors. It simply amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase the penalties applicable to aliens who unlawfully reenter the United States after being removed.

I mean, you were here undocumented - so that is illegal entry and then you were deported, and then you came back so you took it upon yourself to disregard and break our laws a second time. Should you not be punished for your crimes?

I guess the problem would be is what happens once you are in our prison system. I remember seeing a documentary that shows many undocumented people that get arrested and go to prison then join prison gangs of their national origin then when they are released and sent back to their country they are even more terrible and are now trained gangsters that force their way back into our country to commit more crime. Also I don't want to spend tax dollars housing undocumented people in our overcrowded prisons.

There has to be something done though, and the San Francisco police & government should be ashamed of what they have done here. A beautiful woman, daughter and friend was lost to a man that should have never been given a second, third, fourth, and FIFTH chance! ESPECIALLY with the kind of list of convictions he had in his name. I don't care if the bullet ricocheted, he STOLE a firearm and used it. Disgusting scumbag. UGGGHHHH! This story is so depressing and infuriating!

I hope the Steinle family is successful in this battle they are about to engage in.

Posted by Damon
a resident of Foothill Knolls
on Sep 1, 2015 at 11:23 am

Well, hopefully one good thing that comes from all this is a big national spotlight on this crazy "Sanctuary City" policy of San Francisco and other such cities which force their police officers to work at cross-purposes against Federal agents trying to enforce laws against illegal immigration.

Posted by another mom
a resident of Pleasanton Meadows
on Sep 1, 2015 at 1:11 pm

I commend the Steinle family for doing what needs to be done! I also know that their litigation can be very expensive. Should a go fund me site be established please let the Pleasanton community know so we can support them in this time of trial and grief.

Obama and the Drmocrats (national socialists) are all for sanctuary cities and would never withhold funds. They view the Hispanic vote the same as the black vote. Let's make them be holding to the demos so they will vote for them. It's almost a modern form of slavery.

Posted by Michelle
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Sep 2, 2015 at 1:07 pm

I'm not into suing everyone for everything, but this is absolutely justified and will hopefully force change to pathetic sanctuary city policies. I fully support the Steinle family and deeply appreciate them taking SF on to make it a sager place for all of us.

As for Swalwell, he didn't vote for Kate's Law because Nancy Pelosi didn't tell him too. He's a puppet and needs to be voted out.

Posted by Michelle
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Sep 2, 2015 at 1:07 pm

I'm not into suing everyone for everything, but this is absolutely justified and will hopefully force change to pathetic sanctuary city policies. I fully support the Steinle family and deeply appreciate them taking SF on to make it a sager place for all of us.

As for Swalwell, he didn't vote for Kate's Law because Nancy Pelosi didn't tell him he could. He's a puppet and needs to be voted out.

Posted by beach bum
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Sep 2, 2015 at 4:27 pm

Hi local business owner..I was just trying to be sarcastic. I completely disagree, it's not liberal speak, it's political elite speak as that phrase emanates from both sides of the aisle in the rush to pander to certain groups.

Posted by ample tone
a resident of Vintage Hills Elementary School
on Sep 2, 2015 at 4:41 pm

Kate was innocent but does she deserve more justice that the identified kill who didn't aim at her. I believe that I read that the bullet bounced off and hit hit her. What actually happen?I sure that the guy didn't kill her but a misfired bullet did it.

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